The snow has been coming and coming down making for a busy February.  The last Avalanche Level 1 class went off well with only one lost beacon that a good friend is searching for with her avi dog Max.  Max just loves to look for stuff in the snow and finding something that will put a smile on the faces of every one around.  He is usually looking for avalanche victims so this will be a fun activity for him.

We have been taking out so many great clients on amazing adventures I am just so excited about this winter season.  We are looking a busy week coming up with more backcountry ski trips and the Level 2 class up a Alta Lake.  This is one of our highlights of the year this class is fun, we ski and dig in the snow for 4 days straight.  In my world it does not get any better than that.  Play hard! live hard!

This past weekend we hosted our first Avalanche Course of the season.  It went off with out a hitch the sun was shinning and  the snow had all kinds of layers to play with.  We found the snow pack this weekend to be quite variable with lots of opportunity for avalanche activity.  Needless to say we stayed on the Telluride ski resort for the class and was not able to venture into the backcountry.  Mike Freedman was able do some instruction for the course sharing his knowledge and experience with our class witch is always a treat.

It is always a reality check this time of year thinking about going backcountry skiing for me, even though I truly love these mountain they can scare the crap out of me.  What makes living in the San Juan Mountains so much fun can make it very dangerous.  I am always learning here and it keeps me on my toes,  I am hopping to get out on a ski tour this week. We shall see what the snow is doing, and if there is any untracked snow left.

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So we have been getting a lot of snow.  Leaving the backcountry a little unstable, the ice climbing is still really great it is just takes longer to wade through the new powder.  We are looking forwards to our first Avalanche Course this coming weekend.  We most likley will be looking at some really interesting snow pit profiles.  The first class of the season is always exciting for me new people all excited to learn about our backcountry.  It really is amazing living here the skiing is just amazing and there are so many choices.  You can almost always find powder that is safe to ski it just takes exploring.  I just love hosting these classes they are so fun and it truly feels like we are offering a great service to a community that has given us so much.

The rumors are true we are getting dumped on.  It looks like tomorrow will be an official powder day. It started to come in  yesterday but it was straining to fall and cover the crusty sun baked snow pack.  The base is not great but eventually we will see it set up, not sure if it will be a very safe snow pack but it is the San Juan I can not expect to much.

Now we have our first Avalanche level one course of the season coming up and we are looking forwards to playing in all the new snow.

So with a snow storm looming all last week we keep looking to the sky for white flakes, with no avail.  On Wednesday it looked as if we might have had a chance of some snow coming but the clouds built and nothing fell. We are still waiting to get a powder day, now we will just have to keep climbing the most beautiful water fall ice in years.

Josh and I just got back from an afternoon of ice climbing in the Telluride Bear Creek preserve just up from the town park.  We were able to get a rare afternoon off together and enjoy going to an area we do not guide but like to climb personally.  It not only is a great way to blow off steam but we try and get as many laps in as possible.  What a great day!

So the snow has not been coming down but the ice is getting fatter and fatter each day.  This has made for a fantastic ice climbing season this winter.  The famous local ice fest has past and now the crowds have cut back.  I could not believe last week there were at least 2 other climbing parties in Lower Ames yes Lower Ames.  Josh and I were there to do some laps before having to make a trip to Montrose for groceries and to drop off our new guide uniforms to Scotts designs for embroidery.  We ended up climbing up and out of the gully and to the middle falls were their was no one.  There wasn’t even anyone on the Ames Ice Hose.

So we got some short laps in and brought our new shinny jackets off to Montrose. We are very excited about our new Mammut uniforms for this winter.  They are going to be droped off tomorrow and appearing on our staff this week.  It is exciting to have a full uniform for our guides.  What a great feeling.  Photos of  the staff in all the goods will be coming soon.

What a place to decide to get married at Telluride.  What better way than skiing in the San Juan Backountry.  Today we were so glad to host a wedding on skies in the backountry.  The day was spectacular, barley a cloud in the sky and with powder skies strapped to their feet a man and woman married.  It is always fun to share in our clients vacation moments and adventures, but this has to be one of our favorites so far. What a special day to be a part of, it left me thinking secretly about wanting to renew my vows.  A small group of people gathered on a backcountry ski run to celebrate two peoples happiness. I wish them the best and all the powder they can ski.  What a day….

Telluride is hopping at the start of the new year. We have been getting lots of sun giving us fantastic days.

We have been all out with ski tours and ice climbing trips wow what a winter. The ice climbing has just be incredible and the skiing has been spectacular. The snow is accumulating again and giving us a nice blaket of powder to play in. This has been such a fun season our clients have been very just so much fun and energetic. This is when I can not believe how lucky I am to live in such a place and have a job that gives me such joy.